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Post by adzpower on Sept 12, 2017 3:45:09 GMT -5
Yeah the book club thing never took off, presumably because after all was said and done, no-one actually wanted to go out and buy the actual books to contribute to the club.
Which is a shame, because I bought quite a few in preparation for it, I already had most of them but I was missing a few. I want to do a big read through marathon of all the Charmed books one day, good and bad. If nothing else the continuity errors give me a good laugh whilst I'm reading.
I think I read Spirit of the Wolf a long time ago, when I was around 13 or 14, and even then I thoroughly enjoyed it and recognised how well the characters were represented.
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Post by Tim on Sept 12, 2017 11:35:09 GMT -5
While the books are probably out of print, I imagine one can find some in used books stores and perhaps on Amazon or eBay. Guess, as you said, no one wanted to actually take the time to do it.
When you get the time, Adam, feel free to do the Charmed book club here. I've read all the books you have and will be able to talk about them with you.
I agree. If you see that Diana Gallagher or Paul Ruditis is the author, you know you're in for an excellent read.
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Post by Melinda Halliwell on Sept 12, 2017 14:45:19 GMT -5
I'm sure you can get any of the books in local charity shops quite cheaply in good enough condition to read.
I've seen quite a few myself actually.
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Post by Tim on Sept 12, 2017 17:11:22 GMT -5
BOOK: The Power Of Three AUTHOR: Eliza Willard YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1999 NOTE: This review may contain plot spoilers.
This novel is an adaption of the pilot episode, Something Wicca This Way Comes and thus stay pretty faithful to the aired episode. Of course, some scenes are expanded on, since the novel has more time to flesh things out.
We're introduced to the sisters we know and love, and see the start of their journey towards being the Charmed Ones. Of course, like what we saw on TV, the sisters are first amazed at what has happened to them, but, by the, end, they realize that being Charmed is in fact their destiny.
The novel includes an event that didn't happen on the episode. When Phoebe discovers the Book Of Shadows and says that words that first activates their powers, the ghost of Melinda Warren then shows up. For some reason, Melinda chooses to appear to Phoebe as a charred, burnt body (since she was burned at the stake, of course accused witches in Salem were hanged, not burnt, but I digress). Why Melinda chose this form to appear to Phoebe as really makes no sense.
Anyway, Melinda then gives Phoebe the same rundown that Phoebe herself later gives Prue, basically what the powers are, how they work, and the fact that Warlocks would now be after the sister. Before she leaves, Melinda then warns Phoebe that a Warlock is already after them, however, she cannot identify who said Warlock is (it's Piper's then boyfriend, Jeremy, of course).
I don't know if the above scene was original to the novel, or if it was meant to be in the aired episode, but got cut from the script. Perhaps they felt that seeing Melinda looking like that might be disturbing for audiences.
Still, this is a good adaptation of the episode that started it all. 9/10.
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Post by Melinda Halliwell on Sept 13, 2017 3:10:27 GMT -5
Perhaps the scene with Melinda could've been a deleted one that might've being on the show originally but got put into the book instead.
I suppose I would prefer her to be in non corporal form like Grams or Patty first should were telling Phoebe what she's goanna.
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Post by Tim on Sept 13, 2017 11:17:10 GMT -5
Could be. Either they filmed it, and it got cut, or it was in the script, but never filmed. I don't know which.
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Post by Tim on Sept 13, 2017 11:21:08 GMT -5
BOOK: The Legacy of Merlin AUTHOR: Eloise Flood YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2001 NOTE: This review may contain plot spoilers.
More than two years before Sword And The City, Charmed had already dipped into Arthurian legend, with this novel.
In this novel, Prue, still working for Buckland Auction House at this point, goes on a buying trip to Britain, and Piper and Phoebe tag along. While there, they find themselves involved in an adventure involving Druids, and an ancient ritual.
During this story, Phoebe meets a new guy, named Niall, who may be mixed up in all of this. Is Phoebe unknowing dating a Warlock (Piper could relate)? Or is Niall an Innocent, mixed up with something he just doesn't understand? And how does all this connect to Merlin?
This novel did something that the show rarely did, it got the sisters out of San Francisco. I mean, evil can't just be active in just one city, right? It was nice to see the sisters travelling abroad, but still managing to find adventure and mystery. Several of the novels did this, having the sisters travelling to other parts of the U.S., and the world. It made much more sense, IMO.
And this novel has some of the great sister moments the early seasons are known for.
A 9/10 for this one.
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Post by Melinda Halliwell on Sept 13, 2017 12:43:58 GMT -5
It's nice when they get out of San Francisco for once and go somewhere different which was very rarely seen on the show and to my home country to what can you say hey.
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Post by adzpower on Sept 14, 2017 2:43:01 GMT -5
See, I don't like that the book added that scene because it was never mentioned again and you'd think Phoebe would have said "omg our dead ancestor just spoke to me!" But nope, never comes up.
The Legacy of Merlin was always one of my favorites, lots of sisterly moments and like you both said, its nice to see them out of San Francisco and going to other places.
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Post by Tim on Sept 14, 2017 11:06:19 GMT -5
BOOK: Beware What You Wish AUTHOR: Diana G. Gallagher YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2001 NOTE: This review may contain plot spoilers.
Be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it. This happens to Phoebe in this novel. She wishes that she could better predict disasters, and soon, she's getting more premonitions than she bargained for. The sisters are then run ragged, trying to keep up with all of them.
While all this is happening, Prue is photographing a businessman named Stephen Tremaine, who is running for public office. Tremaine is in possession of a statue from South America, a statue that may have a curse on it.
Could this curse be responsible for all the disasters that the sisters are now coping with? Can the sisters unravel the mystery before it's too late?
Once again Diana Gallagher gives up an excellent book with lots of good sister moments. Diana seems to have the sisters down pat, and she never fails to give us good characterization of the Charmed Ones.
9/10.
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Post by Tim on Sept 14, 2017 23:15:15 GMT -5
BOOK: Charmed Again AUTHOR: Elizabeth Lenhard YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2001 NOTE: This review may contain plot spoilers.
This is the novelization of Charmed's "second pilot" episode, Charmed Again. As most of you know, this episode introduced us to Paige Matthews, the half-sister of Piper and Phoebe, who had to be brought in to recreated the Power Of Three after Prue's death. This is the only other episode of Charmed, aside from the original pilot, Something Wicca This Way Comes, to get a novel adaptation.
The novel pretty much follows the actual episode. Yes, some scenes are expanded upon, but going in, I pretty much knew what to expect.
There is really only one thing that bugged me about this novel, they didn't take the opportunity to fill us in on exactly what took place between the end of All Hell Breaks Loose and Charmed Again. As most of you know, All Hell Breaks Loose was the Season Three cliff hanger finale, that left Prue and Piper lying near death, and Phoebe, Leo, and Cole in the Underworld. However, when Charmed Again opened Season Four, everyone was safely back at the Manor, mourning Prue, who had died of her injuries. Of course, this happened because Shannen Doherty was fired between seasons, and the hastily had to rewrite the opening of Season Four to accommodate this. The events that happened after the end of AHBL were more or less hand waved away and that was that.
I had hoped that this novel would fill in that gap, but nope. It just says that Cole had "a last minute change of heart" and saved Phoebe. No further details are given. So, the novel, like the episode, just hand waved the whole thing. Epic fail, novel, epic fail.
For that, this only gets a 6/10.
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Post by Tim on Sept 15, 2017 11:17:42 GMT -5
BOOK: Dark Vengeance AUTHOR: Diana G. Gallagher YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2002 NOTE: This review may contain plot spoilers.
Life has become complicated for the Halliwell sisters. Phoebe is missing Cole, who has gone away on a retreat, Paige is still adjusting to her life as a Charmed One, and Piper is busy with P3. Things are very hectic, it seems.
Then they meet three new friends, Kevin, Kate, and Karen. Of course, these new friends also have names that start with the same first letter, K. Coincidence? Nope, the three K's are three magical warriors whom had lost a battle to the ancestors of the Halliwell family, some 3000 years before. The three K's had used their powers to transport themselves to the present time, hoping for a second chance. Will they succeed?
This was another good novel. Unlike the evil Power Of Three's that the show threw at us, who were all pathetic jokes, the three K's are villians you can take seriously. They are out to settle the score for their long ago defeat and will do anything to achieve that goal.
9/10 for this one.
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Post by Tim on Sept 15, 2017 23:26:35 GMT -5
BOOK: Mist And Stone AUTHOR: Diana G. Gallagher
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2003 NOTE: This review may contain plot spoilers.
Paige has a good role in this book. The events take place when she was still a Social Worker, and this allows her to help others by non-magical means.
One day, the case of a boy named Todd Corman crosses her desk. Todd has been bounced from one caregiver to another for so long that he no longer has any faith in authority figures. However, Paige is bound and determined to get through to him.
Things get complicated when Phoebe has a vision involving Todd, however, this vision is all misty. Leo tells the sisters that this means that Todd's future is in flux. There is a chance that Todd has an important destiny ahead of him, but what is that destiny.
As it turns out, Todd is being targeted by a Darklighter named Scar. Just why is Scar after Todd? Does it have something to do with that possible future destiny. The sisters must unravel the mystery, before it's too late.
Another excellent novel from the pen of Diana Gallagher. Once again she has all the characters spot on right. Paige really shines here in her role as a Social Worker (and one has to wonder why the show abandoned this idea). She wants to help Todd, by both magical and non-magical means, and you rally want her to succeed.
10/10.
And on that note, this is my final review, because I have now done all the Charmed books I currently own. If anyone else here wants to have a go... 
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Post by adzpower on Sept 16, 2017 15:46:54 GMT -5
Another good book, great at showing Paige in her element.
I'll definitely do a few reviews but it may take me a while as I'm currently reading a different series and would like to re-read them before I review them.
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Post by Tim on Sept 16, 2017 17:12:56 GMT -5
Yep, this book takes place during the time that Paige was strongest, character wise.
I can't wait to see your opinions on the Charmed books, Adam.
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